January 24, (THEWILL) – Over 500,000 children are currently out of school in Katsina State, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) disclosed on Friday.
The Chief of UNICEF, Kano Field Office, Rahama Mohammed Farah, told newsmen on the International Day of Education (IDE) 2025 that 536,112 children are out of school in Katsina State.
According to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), Katsina accounts for a significant portion of Nigeria’s 10.2 million out-of-school children.
Fara noted that this staggering figure underscores systemic challenges, including limited access, insufficient funding, and poor educational quality.
He added that foundational literacy and numeracy skills remain far below national averages, with less than 26 percent of children achieving reading proficiency and only 25 percent demonstrating basic numeracy skills. These challenges, he noted, pose long-term risks for human capital development in the state.
UNICEF has implemented various programmes aimed at addressing these challenges. These include engaging traditional and community leaders to promote school attendance, supporting vulnerable families, improving infrastructure, training teachers, rehabilitating schools, and constructing climate-resilient facilities.
Efforts also focus on empowering girls with life skills to ensure inclusive education.
UNICEF called on the Katsina State government to increase education funding and ensure the timely release of budgeted funds. It also urged the government to expand school infrastructure and address the shortage of qualified teachers.
“Education is a fundamental right and a pathway to sustainable development. With over half a million children out of school in Katsina, urgent and collaborative action is needed to secure the future of the state’s youth”, Farah emphasised.
UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Katsina State government and other stakeholders to transform education and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed January 24 as the International Day of Education in celebration of the role of education in peace and development.
Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrined the right to education. The declaration calls for free and compulsory elementary education. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, further stipulates that countries shall make higher education accessible to all.
Under the theme: “AI and education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation”, the 2025 International Day of Education encourages reflections on the power of education to equip individuals and communities to navigate, understand and influence technological advancement.
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